ACTING CHAIR (Senator Hogg) —I declare open this meeting of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee. Today the committee will conduct its first public hearing into the current health preparation arrangements for the deployment of Australian defence forces overseas. The terms of reference were referred to the

CHAIR —Welcome. I think you heard my opening comments concerning parliamentary privilege and evidence. I do not need to repeat those. Have you any opening comments? Cdre Adams —Firstly, can I thank you and the committee for inviting our association to appear before the committee at this time to expand

CHAIR —Welcome. The committee has requested both departments to appear together, as some questions may be relevant to both, although some will be departmental specific. I invite each department to make an opening statement. Rear Adm. Adams —I would like to start by making a short statement before our opening

CHAIR —Thank you, gentleman, for coming along and appearing today and also for providing a written submission to our inquiry. You have been provided with the details of the rights and responsibilities that apply to witnesses appearing before parliamentary committees, and I am sure you would be familiar with that.

CHAIR —Welcome. Senator MARK BISHOP —Thank you for your submission and for raising this very difficult matter with the committee. I think we now have a reasonable understanding of the issues that are being pursued, but I would like to put some questions to you on the implications of moving

ACTING CHAIR —I welcome representatives of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the Department of Defence and the Office of the Government Actuary. This is a roundtable discussion and therefore an interactive discussion, or an iterative discussion, to put it more accurately. I will ask Senator Bishop to lead it and

CHAIR —Welcome. Senator MARK BISHOP —Thank you for your submission and for raising this very difficult matter with the committee. I think we now have a reasonable understanding of the issues that are being pursued, but I would like to put some questions to you on the implications of moving

ACTING CHAIR —I welcome representatives of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the Department of Defence and the Office of the Government Actuary. This is a roundtable discussion and therefore an interactive discussion, or an iterative discussion, to put it more accurately. I will ask Senator Bishop to lead it and

CHAIR —It is a pleasure to welcome the Australian Council of Public Sector Retiree Organisations. I remind the witnesses as well as my colleagues that last time you appeared before us we picked up a number of your recommendations which actually saw some legislative improvements for your members. It was

CHAIR —I welcome you all, but I particularly welcome the representatives who have come from South Australia and Tasmania. It is good that we are getting national representation. Senator SHERRY —Particularly from Tasmania. CHAIR —Mr Robinson was a colleague of mine a few years back. Senator SHERRY —In my case,

CHAIR —Welcome. Thank you very much for agreeing to the transfer of the time. I hope all your members still have the opportunity to be present as a result of the change. Mr Johnson —The only difficulty it created was that Mr Hyndes, who was to be a member of

CHAIR —Welcome. Thank you very much for agreeing to the transfer of the time. I hope all your members still have the opportunity to be present as a result of the change. Mr Johnson —The only difficulty it created was that Mr Hyndes, who was to be a member of